O'Donnell set for Roosters debut

Date: February 20 2013

James MacSmith

Sydney Roosters will give a debut a new backrow recruit in their Foundation Club match against Wests Tigers on Saturday - but it will not be Sonny Bill Williams.

With Williams sidelined by coach Trent Robinson as he recovers from a pectoral muscle injury former Kangaroos and NSW enforcer Luke O'Donnell will play his first match for the tricolours after only joining the club on Monday.

O'Donnell is one of a number of key players including Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen and Ben Te'o who will play their first games of the year in the final round of NRL trial matches this weekend.

The acquisition of O'Donnell comes at a good time for the Roosters will promising youngster Jack Bosden suffering a possible serious shoulder injury at training on Wednesday.

Lining up opposite O'Donnell in the Tigers backrow will be former Roosters captain Braith Anasta who will play his first game against his old side since departing at the end of last season.

The Tigers will be looking to build on their 41-4 thumping of Parramatta last week, while the Roosters are coming off a 20-4 win over Manly.

As clubs play their final trial matches before the official season start on March 7, Jarryd Hayne has been named at fullback and Luke Kelly and Chris Sandow in the halves as the Eels attempt to rebound from their horror loss, they are away to Penrith on Saturday.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has named a squad full of recruits including Lewis Brown, Tom Humble, Jeremy Latimore, Sika Manu, James Segayaro and Dean Whare.

Canberra's Josh Dugan and Jarrod Croker have not been named for Saturday night's match against Canterbury in Goulburn, but the Raiders are confident both players will be fit for round one.

Captain Paul Gallen will play his first game of the year for Cronulla against Newcastle in Tamworth.

Luke Lewis has not been named in Shane Flanagan's 25-man squad but fellow recruits Michael Gordon, Jono Wright and Beau Ryan have.

Te'o will play his first game for South Sydney against St George Illawarra in Friday night's Charity Shield, while Sam Thaiday and Jack Reed will play their first games of the season for Brisbane in the Dunedin on Saturday.

Matt Bowen, Brent Tate and Ash Graham will run out for their first games for North Queensland this year against Gold Coast on Saturday in Mackay. Co-captain Johnathan Thurston will play subject to a fitness test on a hand injury he suffered in the All Stars game. It will be new Titan's co-captain Bird's first game as leader.

"It's exciting for me," he said. "It's a fun first game for me and I'm looking forward to it."

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